Russian Embassy In Damascus Shelled For Second Time This Week

An embassy spokeswoman said that a shell exploded near the Russian Embassy in Damascus on Thursday afternoon. One person was killed and three injured.

This is the second time in a week that shells have fallen near the Russian embassy. No one was killed or injured in Tuesdays incident when two mortar rounds hit an administrative building and near the main entrance.

Tuesday’s shelling was strongly condemned by Moscow, with the Foreign Ministry saying it was being treated as a terrorist act.

All of the victims are Syrians, RT Arabic’s Abutaleb Albuhaya reports, adding that the fatality was an embassy security guard.

The Russian embassy’s press secretary has confirmed that a shell exploded near the diplomatic mission, saying the victims were Syrian military servicemen, RIA Novosti news agency reports.

“The explosion took place at the Syrian Army checkpoint, which is approximately 300 meters from the embassy building. There are casualties among Syrian servicemen,” embassy spokesperson Asiya Turuchiyeva told Sputnik News.

Syrian news agency SANA, citing a police report, said that two shells hit the al-Mazra’a district of Damascus, where the Russian embassy is situated. It confirmed that one person was killed and three wounded, but said the victims were civilians.